Why You Cry, Fart and Feel Bloated in the Sky: Science-Backed Flight Secrets

15 Things Airlines Don’t Tell You – But Flight Attendants Wish You Knew

1. “Hello!” Isn’t Just Polite – It’s a Passenger Assessment

When cabin crew greet you at the door, they’re scanning for four key things:

• Are you fit and sober enough to follow safety instructions?
• Are you ill or nervous and might need support?
• Are you physically strong enough to help in an emergency?
• Could you become a problem passenger later on?

2. They Clock Who’s Wearing Trainers

In a real emergency, heels and flip-flops slow evacuations. So discreetly, crew clock who’s best equipped to move quickly,and sometimes quietly prioritise who to assist based on footwear alone.

3. There’s a Code for Everything – Even Vomit
From “Code Brown” (yep, what you think it is) to “Air Pocket” (a turbulent passenger), many flight crews use subtle slang over radios or among themselves to talk discreetly.

4. They Know Who’s Had Too Much to Drink (Before You Do)

Cabin pressure increases alcohol’s effects. One drink in the air = about two on the ground. Crew watch for signs of passengers who start swaying, slurring or showing aggression early, and may cut you off long before you realise you’re tipsy.

5. The Crew Have ‘Weapons’ – But They’re Hidden

From plastic restraints to metal serving trays and boiling water, flight attendants are trained in defensive tactics and can use what’s around them if a passenger becomes violent or threatening.

6. They Rank Passengers Mentally: Hero, Neutral, Liability

Flight attendants do a mental note-taking exercise early on:

• Who looks calm, aware, and able to help in an emergency?
• Who’s likely to freeze, panic or argue?
  It’s informal, but it happens on every flight.

7. They Hate When You Go Barefoot

It might feel freeing, but the plane floor (especially near loos) is coated in bacteria. Many crew members refer to the carpet near toilets as the “splash zone.”

8. The Crew Eat First – But It’s Not Just a Perk

Before you’re served, some crew eat a portion to check for food poisoning signs. Also, pilots never eat the same meal, to reduce the risk of both getting sick.

9. That Tea or Coffee? It’s Made with Tap Water – Don’t Drink It

Multiple tests have found E. coli and other bacteria in aircraft tap water. Flight attendants stick to sealed bottles and usually advise passengers to avoid hot drinks unless made with bottled water.

10. The Smell is Fake (sometimes) – But the Food Is Real 

The cabin air is dry and low-pressure, which kills smell and taste, so airlines often use scented air to signal “it’s food time,” and sometimes over-salt meals to compensate. Still bland? Blame your body.

11. Most Planes Can’t Handle Pets if There’s an Emergency

If oxygen masks drop, there are none for animals. Pets in the cargo hold are even more vulnerable, they rely entirely on crew monitoring air pressure manually.

12. You’re More Likely to Cry During a Film in the Air

It’s a real phenomenon called “altitude-induced emotional disinhibition.” Lower oxygen, exhaustion and cabin pressure all combine to make passengers cry more easily while watching movies.

13. That Toilet? It’s One of the Most High-Tech Parts of the Plane

Aircraft loos use a vacuum system so powerful it can suck down waste with minimal water and no chemicals. But warning: never flush while seated.

14. Crew are Legally Allowed to Restrain You

If a passenger becomes aggressive, disruptive or threatening, flight attendants can legally restrain them using cable ties or tape, and hand them over to police on landing.

15. Flatulence in the Sky Is Real – and Unavoidable

Altitude makes everyone more gassy – and you’re not imagining it.

At cruising altitude, the cabin is pressurised to feel like you’re at about 6,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level. That lower pressure causes gases in your digestive system to expand by up to 30%, according to studies published in the New Zealand Medical Journal and the BMJ.

In short? Your intestines are inflating, and passengers release more gas mid-flight than they would on the ground.

Most modern aircraft recycle up to 50% of cabin air, which means:

• Farts can linger longer, especially on full flights.
• Crew quietly use airflow from ceiling vents to redirect smells during service.
• Strong smells from food, socks, and yes, bodily gas, are one of the most common unspoken complaints by frequent flyers.

“It’s awkward, but scientifically unavoidable,” says Jessie Chambers from Global Work & Travel. “Our bodies react to cabin pressure whether we want them to or not. Most flight attendants just learn to politely ignore it, or aim the air nozzle strategically.”

Travellers looking to reduce in-flight gas should avoid fizzy drinks, legumes, onions, and high-fibre foods before flying, and try to walk around during longer flights to help digestion.

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